Kodak Porta 160, DIY Development, and the Future of Film, by Tom Persinger, January/February 2012

“In February 2011, Kodak introduced a revised version of its Portra series films. The VC (vivid) and NC (neutral) film stocks were combined into one, Portra 160. Since 95% of film today is scanned, manipulated and printed digitally, consolidating makes sense. Saturation, contrast and many other variables are easily adjusted in Photoshop.

The new Portra 160 has been formulated to have neutral contrast and a 5% increase in saturation. In addition, it takes advantage of Kodak’s new t-grain emulsion where the small, salt like cubes of emulsions introduced 20 years ago have been flattened. This innovation results in larger surface area, greater efficiency, a less grainy appearance and appreciable ease in scanning. It also has quite a healthy exposure latitude−images that are underexposed two stops and overexposed three stops still print wonderfully. Portra 160 is balanced for portrait photography but also performs well with landscapes. Technical issues aside, one of the many beautiful things about Portra 160 is its unique look. If you know film, it’s easy to spot a photograph made with Portra 160 and it’s gorgeous.”

Tom Persinger is an artist, photographer, writer, and the founder of F295, an international organization that believes in the value of a heterogeneous photographic approach in which digital, historic, and self-made methods are employed and combined in the creation of a new “21st Century Photography.” Tom is also currently working on a book that will further illuminate this approach.